Lora dropped her head, avoiding his gaze. “I’d rather defend myself another way.”
Face lighting up, he clapped his hands. “That’s it!”
“What is?”
“I’ve just had the greatest idea.” Lora stared at him, worried. “I promise, you’ll love it.”
Nothing with the word “promise” sounded good to Lora’s ears, but she watched Rhay as he excitedly went to the weapons cabinet. Opening the wooden chest, he called out, “What’s your weapon of choice?”
“Why?”
Rhay blinked up at her from his position on the floor. “If you can’t use your fire, learn how to defend yourself the old-fashioned way first. Maybe it will re-spark that fire in you.”
She doubted that, but learning how to defend herself without relying on her fae powers did intrigue her.
“So, what shall it be, love?” Rhay asked again, pointing at the open wooden chest. Lora walked closer, taking in the selection of weapons.
Elyssa would take it all. Eyden would probably take all of them out and examine them closely before making his choice. Her eyes landed on a small dagger. If she were to learn to defend herself, it should be with a weapon she could easily conceal.
The last time she’d held a dagger, she had stabbed Kelvion in Rubien. But it wasn’t what had killed him. What if it came down to it again and she had to make it count? Her fire couldn’t save her,shouldn’tsave her.
“The dagger,” she said. Rhay didn’t comment on her choice and gripped the small weapon. It had a red tint to it.Almandine.Shaking his head, Rhay put the weapon back and took out a regular iron dagger.
“Why not the other one?” Lora asked.
Rhay handed her the dagger. “Wouldn’t want you to accidentally stab me with almandine. I’ve had a bad experience with that stuff.”
Lora took the weapon and listened to Rhay’s instructions.
“Who taught you?” Lora asked after he had run through the basics a few times.
“Self-defence is mandatory as a royal. Our teacher was quite good.”
“Our?”
“Karwyn and I,” Rhay said, dropping his gaze, “we learned everything together until he started his training to become the next king.”
“You learned to be an advisor?” Lora asked, turning the dagger over in her hands, trying to familiarise herself with its weight.
“Yes.” Rhay looked distracted as he watched Lora’s movements. “I’ve grown up with it.”
“Sounds like you didn’t have a choice.”
His ocean-blue eyes met hers, serious for once. “I didn’t.”
“Do you hate it?” she carefully asked.
“I didn’t used to,” Rhay answered after a short pause. Before Lora could get more out of him, Rhay dropped the dagger he had used to show Lora how to wield it. It landed with a loud clunk. “What do you say, love? Let's give it a try, shall we?” Smirking, he took a few steps back, waiting for her to attack.
Did he seriously want her to charge at him, weapon raised? “I can’t attack you,” Lora said, her palms starting to sweat. Her heart raced. When she looked at her hand, she saw blood for a second—not hers.
“Of course, you can.” Rhay’s grin widened. “I promise you won’t hurt me. Give it a go.” There was that dreaded word again.Promise.When she didn’t move, he took a step towards her. “What’s the matter? Are you scared?”
“Yes,” she said, matter-of-factly.
“I see how it is.” Rhay took another step forward. “You’re as broken as Karwyn made you out to be.” A kindling started in her veins, rage slowly building up. “Poorlittle Adelway,” Rhay said, a daring grin on his face. That bloody name. “Did you turn into a spoiled princess, too afraid to fight for yourself?”
The words felt like icy slaps in her face—stealing her breath. Different voices echoed through her head. Her family’s. Maja. Eyden, who she could only disappoint in the end. Elyssa. Ilario. Farren. She’d let them all down. She wasn’t doing anything. The blood in her veins became scorching.
